VOLUNTEER: The DeRusha Holiday Guide

Places You Can Make An Impact with your Family on Our Community

There’s so much focus on gifts, gifts, gifts - and there’s nothing wrong with gifts! I have gift guides coming to you over the next couple weeks with experiences and some of my favorite shops. But volunteering is always a major focus of our family year round - it fills everyone’s cup. I’ve curated a number of volunteer opportunities you could do with friends and many of them you can bring young children to as well. I hope this guide will help you celebrate the season by giving a little something back!

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HOLIDAY SEASON VOLUNTEERING

GIVE TOYS: Hennepin Healthcare Child Life Toy Drive

December 14, 10am-12pm, at the Clinic and specialty center. 715 South 8th Street, Minneapolis. New and unwrapped toys. Can’t make it: shop the Amazon list.

GIVE TOYS: Holiday Tree of Hope

Bring new, unwrapped toys for infants to 18-year-olds to be distributed to kids at 40 Minnesota hospitals. Saturday, December 7, 8am-12pm, Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE). Atlantic Aviation at 9877 N. Airport Road NE

GIVE TOYS: Twin Cities Toy Drive

Bring new, unwrapped toys to locations all over the metro. Seeking toys for all age groups! Find a drop-off spot here.

GIVE TOYS: Toys For Tots

New, unwrapped toys with a warehouse at Mall of America and drop-offs all over the metro. Find locations here.

GIVE CLOTHES: Woodbury Foundation Winter Clothes Drive

Thru December 20 - link to drop-off locations. Seeking new and gently used winter clothing for local students in need. Winter coats and snow pants: 4T, 5/6, 7/8, 10/12, 14/16, 16/18; Youth sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL; Adult size small and medium; Black is preferred for snow pants.

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VOLUNTEER YEAR ROUND

FIGHT HUNGER: SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND

A great family activity, because anyone 8-years-old and up can volunteer. We do this all the time. Sign up at https://volunteer.2harvest.org/

FIX BIKES: FREE BIKES 4 KIDZ

Free Bikes 4 Kidz is always looking for volunteer mechanics, as they get into the 2025 season families can help them process donations. https://fb4kmn.org/volunteer/

HELP CANCER PATIENTS: HOPE LODGE OF MINNESOTA

Serve meals among other volunteer opportunities to cancer patients in Minneapolis. Select “Hope Lodge” in the volunteer portal and click search. More info: https://www.cancer.org/involved/volunteer/hope-lodge.html

SUPPORT CRITICALLY ILL: OPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA

Prepare medically tailored meals in Open Arms’ kitchen to delivering food to critically ill clients. Young volunteers welcome www.openarmsmn.org/volunteer/

FIGHT HUNGER: FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN

Volunteers can be as young as 5-years-old. Another great family activity. More info at https://www.fmsc.org/get-involved/volunteer/

FIGHT HUNGER: LOAVES AND FISHES

Prepare meals at community meal sites or assist chefs in commissary kitchens. Lots of options: https://www.loavesandfishesmn.org/volunteer/

KEEP NEIGHBORS WARM: ONE WARM COAT

Organize a coat drive for One Warm Coat: Details here: onewarmcoat.org/share-warmth/programs/organize-a-coat-drive/

UNITED WAY’S VOLUNTEER HUB

Options you can do at home as well as things you can join around the community: https://www.gtcuw.org/volunteer/individual-group-volunteering/

STATE OF MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER HUB

The state has a portal with many options: mn.gov/portal/residents/volunteer.jsp

LOCAL GIFT MEMBERSHIPS

I also think giving the gift of a membership to a non-profit museum, arts center, or outdoors organization is a cool way to celebrate our community without being overly commercial. Here are the links to my favorite local memberships:
MIA, Walker, Minnesota Zoo, Minnesota Children’s Museum, Science Museum of Minnesota , Arboretum